Richard Parker to lead UK trade mission to India after FTA

The Mayor of the UK’s West Midlands region, Richard Parker , will lead a trade mission to India from February 23 to 27 , visiting Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Bengaluru. The visit, the first mayoral-led UK trade delegation of 2026 , follows the signing of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in July 2025 and is aimed at strengthening economic, cultural and educational ties between the West Midlands and key Indian regions.

The mission is intended to translate the trade agreement into practical outcomes by promoting collaboration in manufacturing, digital technology, clean energy, education, tourism and innovation . It will also showcase the West Midlands Investment Zone as a destination for Indian companies seeking to expand into the UK and European markets, while deepening political engagement with senior leaders at both national and state levels in India.

The delegation will include senior political, academic and business leaders from the West Midlands along with representatives of the West Midlands Growth Company, the region’s investment promotion agency. Official partners include Aston University, Birmingham City University, the University of Birmingham, the University of Warwick, E.ON and GEDU Global Education . A series of meetings and events has been organised in collaboration with the India Global Forum and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce .

Engagements will include discussions with major Indian companies such as Tata Motors, Infosys, TVS Motors and Atri Energy Transition. Industry roundtables will focus on urban transformation and smart cities with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, technology and digital innovation with NASSCOM, artificial intelligence skilling and the future of work with the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, and tourism and the visitor economy with VisitBritain in Mumbai and Bengaluru.

An event titled “The Commonwealth Legacy” will be held in Ahmedabad in connection with India’s preparations to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games , highlighting long-term cooperation in culture, sport and heritage between the two countries. The programme will also bring together industry bodies to explore opportunities in travel, education and research collaboration .

For India, the visit represents an important step in implementing the UK-India Free Trade Agreement by opening new channels for investment in advanced manufacturing and clean energy , expanding cooperation in artificial intelligence, smart cities and digital infrastructure, and strengthening education and research partnerships. The mission is also expected to encourage tourism and enhance people-to-people links.

Indian companies already have a strong presence in the West Midlands, including Tata Group, Infosys, TVS, Hexaware Technologies, Enzen Global, Suprajit Group, State Bank of India, Microland, Firstsource and Mahindra . India is currently the UK’s second-largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) projects , while the West Midlands is the largest recipient of Indian FDI outside London, making the region a key hub for India-UK commercial engagement.

Tourism will form a central part of the mission’s agenda, as visits from Indian travellers to the West Midlands have grown by more than 20 per cent over the past decade. Indian visitors are also the highest spenders among tourists in any English region outside London, drawn by sporting venues, cultural attractions and retail and dining experiences in cities such as Birmingham and Coventry.

The West Midlands also has strong community links with India through its Indian-origin population of around 276,000 people , often described as a “living bridge” between the two markets. These ties underpin cooperation in business, education and culture and are seen as a foundation for long-term partnership .

Mayor Richard Parker said the mission would build on shared strengths in automotive manufacturing, digital technology and clean energy , and would focus on boosting exports, attracting new investment and increasing visitor numbers to the region. UK Trade Commissioner to South Asia and Deputy High Commissioner to Western India Harjinder Kang said the visit reflected the growing strength of UK-India economic relations and would help businesses on both sides benefit from the trade agreement.

Leaders from Aston University, Birmingham City University, the University of Warwick, E.ON and GEDU Global Education highlighted the importance of expanding education, research and skills partnerships , particularly in areas such as sustainable cities, innovation districts and workforce development.

The mission marks a shift from diplomatic agreements to practical regional-level cooperation under the UK-India FTA. For India, it strengthens engagement with one of the UK’s most industrially significant regions and expands collaboration in sectors such as artificial intelligence, clean energy, urban development and higher education. The outcomes of the visit are expected to shape new commercial projects, academic partnerships and tourism initiatives, reinforcing India’s role as a strategic partner for the UK in the post-FTA period.